Candidates block a railway track during a protest against alleged wrong results of Railway Recruitment Board Non-Technical Popular Categories (RRB NTPC) Exam 2021, in Prayagraj
The Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday arrested two persons and registered a case against around 1,000 unidentified persons in connection with the alleged rioting and blocking of rail tracks by some job-seekers at a local railway station. Six policemen were also suspended with immediate effect for using unnecessary force during the incident on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a search is on for another accused who allegedly made inflammatory remarks on social media. A senior police officer told reporters that the accused appeared to have taken “money from some political parties” to create unrest. A police team has been formed to investigate the incident from this angle.
A video of the incident surfaced on social media, following which Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra condemned the use of force against job aspirants who had gathered there to protest against the alleged irregularities in the railway recruitment exam.
Police said the two people arrested in connection with the case have been identified as Pradeep Yadav and Mukesh Yadav, while a search is on for another suspect, Rajesh Sachin. Police said that Rajesh Sachin had made provocative remarks on social media.
Briefing reporters at Police Lines in Prayagraj, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Kumar said that a video of the incident had surfaced on social media, in which some policemen were seen using unnecessary force.
These policemen have been identified as Rakesh Bharti, SI Shailendra Yadav, SI Kapil Kumar Chahal and constables Mohammad Arif, Achhe Lal and Durvesh Kumar. He said that he has been suspended with immediate effect and departmental action is being taken against him.
The SSP said that there is no quarrel between the police and the students and those who play with the future of the students will not be spared. The SSP visited the areas where thousands of students live.
He said that in connection with Tuesday’s incident, he has registered a case against one thousand unknown people under 13 serious sections. He assured that Prayagraj Police will not take action against any innocent person. The SSP said that it appears that the culprits took money from some political parties to create unrest. He said that an 11-member team has been constituted to probe this aspect.
Meanwhile, Congress candidate from here Anugrah Narayan Singh condemned the police action against the students. Singh said that unemployed youth are demanding their rights. He said that demanding rights is not a crime.
He said that since March, 2019 around 1.24 lakh students had applied for railway jobs under Group D. The Congress leader said that the government postponed the recruitment for three years and in such a situation his anger is justified.
A large number of students had gathered on the railway track, but were chased away by the police. During this, some students allegedly pelted stones at the policemen.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday accused the Uttar Pradesh Police of assaulting students and ransacking their hostels in protest against unemployment.
The SSP had said that some of them pelted stones at the policemen and hid in their hostel nearby. He said the police were trying to nab the culprits and some personnel used unnecessary force, which is visible in the video.
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